i Table of contents 330

A Guide To STARTING A BUSINESS IN MINNESOTA 44th Ed 2026

TABLE OF CONTENTS		5
PREFACE		4
5 STEPS TO START YOUR BUSINESS IN MINNESOTA		8
OPERATIONAL ACTIONS TO START A SMALL BUSINESS		9
CHOOSING THE FORM OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATION		10
TAX AND NON-TAX CONSIDERATIONS		10
NAMING THE BUSINESS		57
FORMING A SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP		61
FORMING A PARTNERSHIP		62
FORMING A MINNESOTA BUSINESS CORPORATION		65
FORMING A MINNESOTA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (LLC)		67
SPECIAL TYPES OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS		69
FILING DOCUMENTS WITH THE OFFICE OF THE MINNESOTA SECRETARY OF STATE		76
OFFICE OF THE MINNESOTA SECRETARY OF STATE - BUSINESS FILING AND CERTIFICATION FEE SCHEDULE		78
REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS		86
SECURITIES REGISTRATION		86
FRANCHISE REGISTRATION IN MINNESOTA		92
EVALUATING A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY		94
BUSINESS LICENSES AND PERMITS		96
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROGRAMS		99
BUSINESS COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST		102
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION		104
BUSINESS PLAN		105
ACCOUNTING FOR THE NEW BUSINESS		107
BASIC ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES		107
INCOME FORECASTING TECHNIQUES		108
BUSINESS GRANTS		111
BUSINESS LOANS		112
PUBLIC SOURCES OF FINANCING – FEDERAL PROGRAMS		114
PUBLIC SOURCES OF FINANCING / TAX CREDITS – STATE PROGRAMS		118
PUBLIC SOURCES OF FINANCING – LOCAL PROGRAMS		136
PRIVATE SOURCES OF FUNDS		136
INSURANCE		138
ISSUES FOR EMPLOYERS		142
WHO IS AN EMPLOYEE?		142
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS		148
LABOR STANDARDS		151
REST BREAKS AND LEAVE TIME		170
EMPLOYEE TESTING AND BACKGROUND CHECKS		174
EMPLOYMENT OF MINORS		178
PROTECTION OF EMPLOYEES WHO REPORT VIOLATIONS OF LAW		181
HUMAN RIGHTS		183
IMMIGRATION LAW COMPLIANCE		188
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH		190
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE		195
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS		200
PLANT CLOSINGS AND MASS LAYOFFS		203
POSTER REQUIREMENTS		205
CHECKLIST FOR HIRING AN EMPLOYEE		207
BUSINESS TAXES		219
TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS		221
BUSINESS INCOME TAX RETURNS		226
SALES AND USE TAX		231
FICA TAX (SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE)		235
INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING		236
SUCCESSOR LIABILITY FOR CERTAIN TAXES WHEN A BUSINESS OR ITS ASSETS ARE TRANSFERRED		242
REVOCATION OR PREVENTION OF LICENSE ISSUANCE OR RENEWAL		243
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TAXES		244
FEDERAL TAX REQUIREMENTS		247
STATE OF MINNESOTA TAX REQUIREMENTS		248
SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE		250
STATE PROGRAMS		250
SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE OFFICE		250
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS (SBDCs)		251
MINNESOTA TRADE OFFICE		252
MINNESOTA BUSINESS FIRST STOP		253
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICE		254
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS		254
MINNESOTA JOB SKILLS PARTNERSHIP		256
DISLOCATED WORKER PROGRAM		256
MINNESOTA FEDERAL BONDING SERVICE		257
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION		257
GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT ASSISTANCE		257
FEDERAL PROCUREMENT		258
MINNESOTA STATE PROCUREMENT		259
LOCAL PROCUREMENT		260
ACCOUNTING AND TAX ASSISTANCE		260
PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS		260
ENROLLED AGENTS		262
TAXPAYER EDUCATION WORKSHOPS		262
LIBRARIES		263
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF ASSISTANCE		265
SPECIALIZED LEGAL RESEARCH AND ASSISTANCE		265
MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE FOR MINORITY BUSINESSES		266
BUSINESS INCUBATORS		266
INVENTORS RESOURCES		266
MINNESOTA STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES		266
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS		267
EXPORT / IMPORT ASSISTANCE		267
SCORE		267
WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS ASSISTANCE		268
BUSINESS CERTIFICATION		268
BUSINESS SUCCESSION AND EXIT PLANNING		269
RESOURCE DIRECTORY		271
COOPERATIVES		273
ENVIRONMENTAL		273
EXPORT / IMPORT ASSISTANCE		273
FINANCING, FEDERAL SOURCES		273
FINANCING / TAX CREDITS, STATE SOURCES		275
FINANCING, LOCAL SOURCES		277
FINANCING, PRIVATE SOURCES		279
GOVERNMENT, FEDERAL		280
GOVERNMENT, STATE		283
GOVERNMENT, REGIONAL		291
INSURANCE		292
INVENTORS		292
JOB SERVICE and JOB TRAINING		292
LEGAL ASSISTANCE		295
LIBRARIES		296
LOCAL ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES		299
MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE / MENTORS		300
TAX AND ACCOUNTING ASSISTANCE		306
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES		306
ADA INFORMATION		306
COUNTY LICENSING AGENTS		306
CITY LICENSING CONTACTS		307
CO-WORKING / CREATIVE / INCUBATOR SPACES		308
NONPROFIT INFORMATION		309
OTHER		310
DIRECTORY OF LICENSES AND PERMITS		312

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